The mother of a survivor of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash hopes the truck driver involved in the crash is given a sentence long enough to send a clear message to others on the road.
Michelle Straschnitzki, whose son Ryan was left a paraplegic in the crash, told Ā鶹“«Ć½ Channel that although not everyone will be happy with the sentence, she hopes itās stiff enough to make others think twice about driving recklessly.
āUnfortunately, regardless of the sentence tomorrow, for some it will never be enough, and for others it doesnāt make any difference because it canāt bring anyone back. But I want it to send enough of a message that no other person does something like this again,ā she said.
Jaskirat Singh Sidhu, the driver of the semi that collided with the Humboldt Broncoās team bus, pleaded guilty to 16 counts of dangerous driving causing death and 13 charges of dangerous driving causing bodily harm back in January.
Sidhu is scheduled to be sentenced in the matter on Friday. The prosecution is looking for a 10-year sentence.
Ryan Straschnitzki is already back on the ice playing sledge hockey, but his mother says heās still coping with the aftermath of the crash.
āThe biggest challenge for him has just been mentally keeping himself going and he wonāt talk to us about anything emotional. But Iām hoping that he and the boys can still talk to each other and they know that theyāve got each otherās backs,ā she said.
The sentence will mark the end of the emotional trial. In January, 90 victim impact statements were read in court by the victimsā loved ones.
The Straschnitzki family will not be in court for the sentencing.
Looking forward, Straschnitzki says she hopes to see widespread changes to the law.
āIām looking for some way of making sure that there will be real changes and people will think twice about changing the law. We want real changes to happen and I think Saskatchewan has started the ball rolling very well with that. It should be all across Canada.ā
